National Anthem One Pager

Publication: NPR

 Author: Tom Goldman 

Web Link: https://www.npr.org/2018/09/06/644991357/how-sports-met-the-star-spangled-banner

     To many people it seems like “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been around forever. Others may be curious as to when the tradition began and may wonder why we even pair it with sporting events. Nowadays we know it as a very controversial topic. However, there is so much more behind it. The controversy is only a small sliver of how much history the “Star-Spangled Banner” has developed.

     The “Star-Spangled Banner” was first written in 1814 but it wasn’t officially the anthem until almost 120 years later in 1931.  The “Star-Spangled Banner” wasn’t always connected to sports, the first time it was performed at a sporting event it just happened coincidentally. When it was first seen as an important acknowledgement of the war during in 1918 World Series. The teams weren’t playing so well and as soon as the band began the anthem both the crowd and players became very engaged. It was then played at all sporting events, it was just a regular occurrence. In 1931 it became the official anthem and people learned the lyrics by seeing them in the commercials that played before movies! “Superimposing the words over images of fighter planes in formation and charging soldiers, the spots helped solidify the anthem as an expression of military glory.” Goldman explained. However, outside of theaters it was just a natural fit for all sporting events. “With its celebration of heroism and the musical athleticism needed to belt out the song’s highs and lows.” He added. It’s clear that this began to show some type of importance to everyone as the song became an expectance and was essential to every single sporting event. It went from being played coincidentally to being played as a necessity to start the game. The anthem became a large focus of the game.

     Even though it may seem as if everything ran smoothly with the anthem and that it seemed fully accepted that isn’t quite the case. The anthem has been a part of sporting events for a long time, but just recently in 2016 some NFL players have begun to use it as a platform for protest. This news just now resurfaced as we are starting a new football season and Nike has chosen to do a campaign with Colin Kaepernick who is the face of this recent protest. “But it’s merely the latest chapter in a more than 150-year connection between “The-Star Spangled Banner” and sports.” This protest isn’t new, in 1968 during the Mexico City Olympics two track and field medal winners produced a similar protest. Dr. Harry Edwards is an adviser to Kaepernick and experienced the 1968 protest. “The anthem, he says, always has been a powerful platform for protest.” He’s even suggested adding “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” also known as the black national anthem to every pregame and has heard nothing back. “...the nation continues to wrestle with what the sports protests mean. Disloyalty to the flag, the military, the country? Or a true expression of freedom and hope that the United States can be better?” As this protest has been going on for a while and we still aren’t sure of the exact meaning it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

     This topic just drew me in, I’ve always been curious about the protests and at the same time I’ve always wondered about the history of the anthem. For me it’s been something I’ve just know to stand for and sing along with forever. So, when the protests started, and we were studying them in 8^th grade social studies I was immediately interested. I was so Interested in seeing someone else’s opinion. Now, I can’t say that I totally agree with Kaepernick’s protest because I wouldn’t personally choose to kneel. However, I get where he is coming from. He is trying to voice his opinion and so what he believes. I think that’s very important currently in society. If you don’t stick up for what you believe in nothing is going to happen. He is doing what he believes is right and is standing up for what is important to him. I also think it was very brave of Nike to chose to do this campaign with him, they knew they were going to receive some backlash, but they chose to do it anyways. They are focusing on what needs to be focused on in their eyes. I also understand why people would be offended, soldiers fought for this country and for our freedom so in their eyes they’re seeing it as disrespect. This is all completely entitled to opinion. I was very drawn in because I wasn’t exactly sure when the anthem met sports or why we even started using it as an opener for sporting events. Now I realize that it all happened sort of coincidentally and I thought it was very interesting to see how it came about. The anthem is always something I will support but I will always try and see it from another’s perspective. Therefore, I am opening my mind and realizing where the protests are coming from. The “Star-Spangled Banner” has been a big part of the American society and our history and I hope it can stay this way and that eventually everyone can conclude what it means to them personally, whether that is positive or negative.